8. Portland Trail Blazers – Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF
The Portland Trail Blazers appear to be back to the drawing board after another disappointing season. It’s tough to say whether they’ve taken any steps forward but the hope is that after another productive offseason, this team will finally be able to compete in a deep Western Conference next season. At the very least, they must break the threshold of being a playoff team.
And perhaps they can take a step in that direction by making a smart selection with their projected top 10 pick. One interesting prospect that could be in play for the Blazers here is Taylor Hendricks. He’s a 6-foot-9 forward with impressive athleticism and the ability to stretch the floor with his 3-point shot. Playing at Central Florida, he’s probably a prospect that not many are familiar with. But he has a chance to be a top-10 pick.
During his freshman season, Hendricks averaged 15 points and seven rebounds per game on 40 percent shooting from deep. If the Blazers had any concerns about being able to retain Jerami Grant in free agency, drafting a player such as Hendricks would make even more sense.